Cavaliers overcome injuries against PM East

SWIFTWATER — Four starters left the game with injuries and East Stroudsburg South still found a way to win a ballgame Saturday night.

Staff reports

SWIFTWATER — Four starters left the game with injuries and East Stroudsburg South still found a way to win a ballgame Saturday night.

The 32-28 victory over Pocono Mountain East may be one of those games the Cavaliers look back and say, that's where we won the Mountain Valley Conference. Maybe.

The Cavaliers still have plenty of mountains to climb, but after falling behind 28-16 in the fourth quarter to the Cardinals they easily could have folded their tents. Tailback Nico Petrone had left late in the third quarter with an apparent injury, but Ryan Nazario filled in admirably.

Nazario ran for 11 yards and a touchdown, a TD that brought the Cavaliers back into striking range, down 28-23 with nine minutes to play.

Also, credit freshman quarterback Jake Cirillo, who was 0-for-4 in the first half before bouncing back to go 6-for-11 for 137 yars in the second half. He capped his night with a game-winning 53-yard touchdown pass to Billy Goodfellow in the final minute.

The Pocono Mountain East senior did what no other back has done this season — run through, around and over East Stroudsburg South's defense. Castillon ran for a whopping 231 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns. Castillon had 198 in the first half alone.

Defensively, senior linebacker Ryan Clancey and safety Devyn Papa played some of their best football of the year. Papa was all over the field, while Clancey recorded a sack in the first half.

After throwing for 253 yards in his first start last week against Quakertown, quarterback Luke Hohenstein showed off his arm strength and finished with 131 yards and a touchdown to RJ Sarajian. That TD was a 32-yard strike in the right corner of the end zone, finding the outstretched arms of the 6-foot-3 Sarajian for a 21-16 lead just before halftime.

— Mike Kuhns

BRODHEADSVILLE — The Bears got contributions from all three phases in Friday's 49-38 victory over defending Class AA state champion Wyomissing.

Wide receiver Kevin Cruz had his best game of the season, hauling in six passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Nyiem Nevarez was dynamic on offense, catching three passes for 139 yards and two scores, and a menace on defense against the Spartans. Austyn Borre was bottled up for most of the night, but the junior finished the game with 103 yards and two TDs after breaking free for an 81-yard score late in the fourth quarter.

Ahmad Curtis had a sack in the second quarter, and Lucas Adan and Drew Meckes split a sack in the fourth.

After Wyomissing returned an interception for a touchdown to cut PV's lead to 14-6, Nick Huerta returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a score.

Dean Krcic was 7-for-7 on extra points and even had a tackle on a kickoff return.

— Joe Miegoc

ALLENTOWN — The Mounties' defense continues to play well this year.

Even during Stroudsburg's lone loss this season, a 14-7 setback to East Stroudsburg South, its defense played quite well.

In Friday night's 56-0 victory over Allen, the D shined again.

Safety Dillon Dunne and linebacker Ryan Liebau, both seniors, have each stepped up their games five games into the season. Dunne had an interception in the first quarter and returned it to the Allen 25, which set up one of four Gerald Douglas touchdowns.

Liebau got into the action in the second quarter, scooping up a fumbled ball and returning it 47 yards for a 28-0 advantage.

Stroudsburg's first-team defense allowed just four first downs in the first half, two coming on Allen's first drive of the game. The Canaries also got a first down in punt formation. When Allen punter Justice Anderson realized his punt was going to be blocked, he avoided the rush and scrambled for a first down.

— Mike Kuhns

SWIFTWATER — Pocono Mountain West took advantage of five takeaways to earn its first victory of with a 48-27 defeat of East Stroudsburg North on Friday.

Qmac Quiteh anchored the Panthers' offense, rushing for 121 yards on 18 attempts and four touchdowns. He also completed three passes on six attempts for 94 yards.

Jordan Hardy made his defensive presence known for PM West, picking off Will Quiles twice and returning one 81 yards for a touchdown. Hardy also blocked an extra point attempt and caught one pass for 41 yards.

The Timberwolves' running trio of Quiles, Anthony Cruz and Elijah McBride combined to average eight yards per touch, rushing for 274 yards on 34 attempts with three of the team's four touchdowns. However, turnovers stifled any built momentum.